Pairing Structured On-the-Job Training with Related Technical Instruction Just Makes Sense

by Frank Gibson, CEO of North-Central Ohio Employer-Based Worker Training Partnership; Workforce Development Advisor, retired from The Ohio State University – Alber Enterprise Center
I have for worked with educational institutions for many years, trying to reach out to employers with the latest and best courses and seminars they had. It is what we did with good intentions, but in many cases this was a difficult sale at best. Their products were often already built…before they precisely knew the needs of the employer. If the employer engaged them for our services, when delivered it was more of an underwhelming experience for the customer than I felt comfortable with. Often it didn’t lead to follow-on work.
An employer’s operation is driven by accounting for the bottom line. Accountants are quick to dismiss core and technical instruction as a “cost.” That is what they were taught in college, and truthfully there is often little evidence that attending a course improves work performance in most cases. Sadly, that level of “job relevance” or content validity was considered less important than the influence of the institution’s name that was promoting the products or services.
When I became familiar with Structured On-The-Job Training (SOJT), I appreciated SOJT because SOJT built from the bottom up. The training delivery structure was designed around the actual tasks the employee is expected to master, for which the employer hired the individual in the first place. Structuring the best practices into training delivery so that workers can learn faster how to perform each task and to standardize the delivery between each shift’s trainers and each trainee gets to the company’s bottom line. It is seen as an investment that can be defended to accountants, unlike core and technical instruction.

There’s always direct evidence that mastering one more task means an incremental increase in worker capacity. The secret of a successful workforce development project lies in not leading with the core and technical instruction no matter how job relevant we are convinced, but leading with the SOJT since it’s easy to explain and an employer can perceive the benefits far faster. Once the SOJT is up and running, and proving itself to upper management, employers are more inclined to add core and related technical instruction to enhance the worker development process if selected, updated or developed to empirical job-specific data.

But related technical instruction needs to be separated into two components: core skill development and advanced skill development. Core skill development is shoring-up any deficiencies that an employee might have that would hinder them in mastering the tasks in the SOJT program. Advanced skill development relates to enhancing the employee’s performance by providing additional knowledge that impacts their core skill base.

Building the SOJT before selecting selecting the related technical instruction is the horse before the cart. Nobody would think of trying to motivate an employee to higher level performance through educational learning when they haven’t had an opportunity to master the tasks that they were hired to perform in the first place; or would they? It is an inefficient use of resources that sometimes leave a bad taste in the client’s mouth that will be hard to overcome. Once a training or learning provider loses their credibility with a client, the client is usually reluctant to use them for additional services. The case will be even harder for them to make to accounting.

 

If you recognize these challenges and have shed your fear of even looking at other solutions, check out Proactive Technologies, Inc.®’s structured on-the-job training system approach to see how it might work at your firm, your family of facilities or your region. Contact a Proactive Technologies representative today to schedule a GoToMeeting videoconference briefing to your computer. This can be followed up with an onsite presentation for you and your colleagues.

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  • 7:00 am-7:45 am
    2025-05-06

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    (Mountain Time) This briefing explains the philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of human resource development in more than just the training area. This model provides the lacking support employers, who want to be able to easily and cost-effectively create the workers they require right now, need. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping.  Approx 45 minutes.

  • 9:00 am-9:45 am
    2025-05-06

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    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more that just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers across all industries one-by-one. How this can become a cost-effective, cost-efficient and highly credible workforce development strategy – easy scale up by just plugging each new employer into the system. When partnering with economic development agencies, and public and private career and technical colleges and universities for the related technical instruction, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. This model provides the support sorely needed by employers who want to partner in the development of the workforce but too often feel the efforts will not improve the workforce they need. Approx. 45 minutes

  • 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
    2025-05-06

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers across all industries and how it can become an cost-effective, cost-efficient and highly credible apprenticeship. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping. When partnering with economic development agencies, public and private career and technical colleges and universities, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. This model provides the lacking support needed to employers who want to easily and cost-effectively host an apprenticeship.  Approx. 45 minutes

78
  • 7:00 am-7:45 am
    2025-05-08

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    The Crash of 2008 and the Covid-19 Pandemic have caused disruptions to not just businesses, but the entire economy. Changes in company ownership can change in business strategy and training project support. During these disruptions, several Proactive Technologies projects were set-up for employers and ready to implement, or implementation started but paused temporarily, some indefinitely, as internal project knowledge and advocacy dissipated. Employee and management contacts were either laid-off, reassigned or retired. The significant value of what was established remains and Proactive Technologies saved each company’s data set up that point. Here is a chance to discover what was established, where we left off and what it would take to restart the program. The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; the many benefits from the PROTECH® © system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; examples of projects with manufacturing and manufacturing support companies (aerospace, Tier-1 and 2 automobile suppliers, chemical companies, facilities maintenance companies, rubber/polymer manufacturers); compliance support provided by the system for ISO/AS/IATF and Nadcap quality programs as well as OSHA safety requirements; and how many structured on-the-job training programs were, or can be, unregistered apprenticeships or registered as apprenticeships.

  • 9:00 am-9:45 am
    2025-05-08

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    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH® © system of managed human resource development in more that just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training programs and supporting them for employers across all industries. ISO/AS/IATF, Nadacp and similar quality programs have a requirement that: standardize work processes guide quality, auditable task performance; training matches the process; training is documented for each worker; and a system is in place to ensure all are up to date and in sync. This program supports ISO/AS/IATF and Nadcap compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture. In addition to hiring, structured on-the-job training and performance evaluation instruments, PROTECH produces reports such as Technical Document (best practice for each task), Qualification/ Certification Checklists and more. One-revision updates all materials! Efforts like Lean, Kaisen, continuous improvement strategies all can render a lesser model obsolete and non-compliant in a few months. This model provides the lacking support needed to employers who want to easily and cost-effectively establish and maintain compliance. Approx. 45 minutes

  • 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
    2025-05-08

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more that just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training programs and supporting them for employers across all industries. This approach uses the “accelerated transfer of expertise™” to quickly and completely train each incumbent worker to full job mastery. When change settles and growth returns, new-hires can be quickly developed to full job mastery to support expansion and cross-training of each worker conducted and controlled. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF and Nadcap compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping. Approx. 45 minutes

91011
1213
  • 7:00 am-7:45 am
    2025-05-13

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; the many benefits the employer can realize from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; examples of projects across all industries, including manufacturing and manufacturing support companies. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF and Nadcap compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping. When combined with related technical instruction, this approach has been easily registered as an apprenticeship-focusing the structured on-the-job training on exactly what are the required tasks of the job. Registered or not, this approach is the most effective way to train workers to full capacity in the shortest amount of time –cutting internal costs of training while increasing worker capacity, productivity, work quality and quantity, and compliance.  Approx 45 minutes.

  • 9:00 am-9:45 am
    2025-05-13

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers in across all industries. When partnering with economic development agencies, public and private career and technical colleges and universities, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping. This model provides the lacking support needed to employers who want to easily and cost-effectively host an apprenticeship.  Approx 45 minutes.

  • 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
    2025-05-13

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more that just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers across all industries one-by-one. How this can become a cost-effective, cost-efficient and highly credible workforce development strategy – easy scale up by just plugging each new employer into the system. When partnering with economic development agencies, and public and private career and technical colleges and universities for the related technical instruction, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. This model provides the support sorely needed by employers who want to partner in the development of the workforce but too often feel the efforts will not improve the workforce they need. Approx. 45 minutes

1415
  • 7:00 am-7:45 am
    2025-05-15

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers in across all industries. When partnering with economic development agencies, public and private career and technical colleges and universities, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. This model provides the lacking support needed to employers who want to easily and cost-effectively host an apprenticeship.  Approx 45 minutes.

  • 9:00 am-9:45 am
    2025-05-15

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) This briefing explains the philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of human resource development in more than just the training area. This model provides the lacking support employers, who want to be able to easily and cost-effectively create the workers they require right now, need. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping.  Approx 45 minutes.

  • 1:00 pm-1:45 pm
    2025-05-15

    Click Here to Schedule

    (Mountain Time) The philosophy behind, and development/implementation of, structured on-the-job training; how any employer can benefit from the PROTECH© system of managed human resource development in more than just the training area; building related technical instruction/structured on-the-job training partnerships for employers across all industries and how it can become an cost-effective, cost-efficient and highly credible apprenticeship. Program supports ISO/AS/IATF compliance requirements for “knowledge(expertise)” capture, and process-based training and record keeping. When partnering with economic development agencies, public and private career and technical colleges and universities, this provides the most productive use of available grant funds and gives employers-employees/trainees and the project partners the biggest win for all. This model provides the lacking support needed to employers who want to easily and cost-effectively host an apprenticeship.  Approx. 45 minutes

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